`Hakko` cherry tree

ABSTRACT

The cherry variety Hakko is selected from seedlings of Sato Nishiki crossed with Jabouley. It has few flowers per inflorescence, a high fruit set, and large fruit with an overall vividred color substantially covering a light yellow ground, light and inconspicuous surface speckling, and a pale yellow flesh color which turns progressively translucent with ripening.

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No.08/202,700 filed Feb. 25, 1994, which was a continuation of applicationSer. No. 08/083,333, Jun. 29, 1993, which was a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 07/688,781, filed Apr. 16, 1991, all now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The cherry variety of this invention was selected and developed byKoichiro Konta in Japan from 86 seedlings of Sato Nishiki crossed withJabouley (early Lyons) in 1961. Sato Nishiki is a popular Japanesevariety of cherry bred in Japan, and was originally selected fromseedlings of Napoleon crossed with Governor Wood. In 1967, the inventorselected one seedling of the cherry variety of this invention which hadgood and large fruit. His observations over 5 years from the first cropindicated that the seedling had the desirable characteristics of earlyflowering, good tree performance in terms of flower numbers andexcellent fruit with good color.

Accordingly, he grafted the variety of this invention on a Napoleon treeand on an Aoba rootstock for confirmation of stability. This graftingtook place at:

No. 1125-1, Kawamukai Tanakajima,

Ooaza Dai, Kahoku-cho,

Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata, Japan

The variety of this invention grafted on Napoleon and on Aoba expressedthe same characteristics as the mother tree. Those characteristics aredescribed herein, all specific color descriptions being by reference tothe ISCC -- NBS system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the variety Hakko and thecharacteristics of its fruit.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of Hakko fruit on the original tree;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of Hakko fruit on the tree;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of Hakko fruit (side view);

FIG. 4 is a photograph of Hakko fruit (from stem end);

FIG. 5 is a photograph of Hakko fruit (opposite from stem end);

FIG. 6 is a photograph of cross sections of Hakko fruit;

FIG. 7 is a photograph of Hakko flowers (top view);

FIG. 8 is a photograph of unopened Hakko flowers (side view); and

FIG. 9 is a photograph of Hakko leaves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The variety Hakko was selected from seedlings of Sato Nishiki crossedwith Jabouley. The fruit is heart-shaped and medium to slightly big(average 7 g). It ripens for harvest beginning about June 20 on theoriginal tree at Kahoku-cho, Yamagata, Japan. The tree is spreading, ofmedium size and somewhat vigorous. The shoot is thin and long, ofmoderate brown color. The leaf is oval and of medium size. The tree hasa showy flowering and has few large flowers with oblong and largepetals, strong yellow green sepal and medium peduncle. The bud isslightly rounded. The fruit is of medium size, flat heart-shaped with ashallow concave apex, and a shallow and narrow stalk cavity. The skin isglossy and smooth, vivid red overall on a light yellow ground. The fleshis pale yellow without arthocyanin coloring of the flesh and around thestone, and has a medium sweetness and little acidity. The stone iselliptical, of medium size and semi-adherent.

Sprouting, leafing and flowering are early. The fruit is harvested inmid to late June, 2-3 days earlier than Sato Nishiki. This variety hasmedium productivity, medium cracking tendency and keeping quality. Hakkois distinguished from Rockport Bigarreau by the shorter vertical lengthof its fruit, slightly harder flesh, smaller stone and redder skin.Further, it is distinguished from Sato Nishiki by an earlier floweringtime (1-2 days earlier), fewer flowers per cluster, shallow fruit apex,redder skin, and a thin shoot which has more red in its color.

Breeding History of the Variety

(1) Denomination:

Mother variety.--Sato Nishiki.

Father variety.--Jabouley.

(2) Place of breeding:

No. 1125-1, Kawamukai Tanakajima,

Ooaza Dai, Kahoku-cho,

Nishimurayama gun, Yamagata, Japan.

(3) Purposes of breeding program: To breed excellent mid-season sweetcherry with good color and stable productivity.

Process of Breeding

The inventor sowed seeds of Sato Nishiki crossed with Jabouley in 1961.He grew 86 seedlings in the next year. Six years later, he selected oneseedling with good color and big fruit. He observed its characteristicsfor growth and fruit over 5 years. As a result, he confirmed that thevariety has the desirable characteristics of early sprouting, leafingand flowering, vigorous tree, high fruit set in comparison to flowersper cluster, good fruit color and good quality. He grew the varietyunder adequate growth conditions. In 1983, he grafted the variety on aNapoleon (Royal Ann) tree and the next year on an Aoba rootstock. Thesetrials indicated that the characteristics of the tree on Napoleon andAoba are the same as those of the mother tree.

Trials for Determining Characteristics (1) Trials Procedure

a. Place of trials:

No. 1125-1, Kawamukai Tanakajima,

Ooaza Dai, Kahoku-cho,

Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata, Japan.

b. Dates and periods of trials: April 1988-July 1989.

c. Name of control varieties: Sato Nishiki; Rockport Bigarreau.

d. Brief description of trials: The inventor planted the original tree,27 trees (1 year-old), 3 trees (6 year-old) and 13 trees (4 year-old) onhis level orchard with sod culture. He fertilized with 1.25 kg/hectareof fertilizer mainly composed of organic, humus barnyard manure. Treesare typically covered by a plastic house to protect from rainfallcracking.

(2) Result of Trials

Hakko breaks dormancy about 1-2 days earlier than Sato Nishiki in thespring, flowering about 1-2 days earlier. In comparison to othercommercial cherry varieties of the area, this tree would be regarded ashaving fewer flower buds and fewer flower buds per flowering spur andfewer flower buds at non-spurred flowering nodes. However, while thistree produces fewer flowers when compared to most other commercialcomparison trees, productivity remains sufficiently high because thistree has a comparatively high level of fruit set to the number offlowers presented. The resulting fruit attains an advantageously largesize without the fruit having to be thinned, as may be required withcomparison varieties which have a higher level of flower bud productionand higher levels of fruit set. Fruit size is typically larger than thatof Sato Nishiki, which may need thinning. This tree produces abundantpollen and is cross-compatible with Sato Nishiki, which serves as anexcellent pollinator for Hakko.

The fruit of Hakko begins to color from late May, and matures to abright red at maturity, but before full ripeness. Fruit ripening ofHakko is slightly earlier or with Sato Nishiki. Harvest is typicallyabout 45 days from full bloom for this tree. Fruiting branches may weepwith fruit loads due to the high vigor and consequent thin twigs of thisvariety. Current season's growth typically abundantly branches inspreading patterns, and renders numerous rounded, large flower budswhich break the following season. Foliage, even on basal stem portions,remains green until leaf fall after first frost which normally occurs inabout early November.

Main use of the variety: Dessert sweet cherry.

Cultivation:

(1) Regions appropriate for cultivation.--All areas.

(2) Type of cropping.--For growing under vinyl house for protection fromrain.

(3) Suggestions useful for cultivation.--Hakko is highly vigorous.Training and pruning should be selected to discourage prolific growth.Because fruit reaches full color before ripeness, care should be takento avoid harvest of fruit before full ripeness is attained.

Botanical Description of the Claimed Plant

Tree: Tree is spreading, of medium size and strong vigor.

Shoot: Shoot is of medium thickness (diameter 0.43 cm), more thin thanSato Nishiki and Rockport Bigarreau. Color is moderate brown, more redthan Sato Nishiki and Rockport Bigarreau. Internode in medium (4.5 cm),longer than in Sato Nishiki and Rockport Bigarreau. Shoot has manylarge, dense lenticels. Dormant shoot is covered with light grayishyellow brown wax on moderate brown ground color, more red than SatoNishiki and Rockport Bigarreau. Lenticels are medium size and round witha deep orange color. Bud is blunt-shaped.

Leaf: Leaf is oval, dark olive green and medium size (length 14.7 cm,width 6.6 cm), with narrow and small stipules. Leaf gland is reniform.Two reniform glands on petiole or on base of leaf blade are small (about2.14 mm with anthrocyanin coloration).

Flower: Flower has a medium number of petals and is of a large size(diameter 3.3 cm). There are few florets per cluster. Petals are large(width 1.6 cm, length 1.2 cm), ovate, and yellowish white. Flower isfertile and has one pistil. Stamen is yellowish white and pollen ispresent. Calyx tube is bell-shaped. Calyx is strong yellow green. Sepalis medium length. Peduncle is medium length (1.7 cm). Florets in flowercluster are few (average of 2.2 florets per cluster); therefore, fruitgrows large without fruit thinnings.

Fruit: Fruit is medium size (7.5 g), flat round, shallow concave apex(length 2.3 cm, width 2.5 cm, thickness 2.1 cm), with shallow and narrowstalk cavity (depth of stalk cavity 1.93 mm; width of stalk cavity 11.38mm). Skin is vivid red over all on a light yellow ground, wtihinconspicuous surface speckling. Stalk is 4.3 cm. Flesh is medium softand pale yellow without anthrocyanin coloration in flesh and on surfaceof stone. Flesh color turns progressively translucent with ripening.Flesh is medium in acidity, sweetness and juiciness. Juice of flesh issubstantially clear, not colored. Skin starts to color in late May.Sugar content (Brix) of flesh is 16.0, pH is 3.56. Flesh is juicy, butnot bitter or astringent. Firmness of flesh is medium, similar toNapoleon. Fruit dot on skin is very small and light yellow.

Stone: Stone is elliptical, medium size (0.4 g), and smaller than forRockport Bigarreau. It is semi-adherent to the flesh and is a paleyellow color. Surface of the stone is smooth. Length of the stone is 1.2cm, width is 0.8 cm, and thickness if 1.0 cm.

Flowering time: Flowers 1-2 days earlier than Sato Nishiki. Beginning offlowering is April 28 and flowers are in full bloom on May 1st.

Maturing time: Fruit picks in mid to late June on original tree, 2-3days earlier than Sato Nishiki. Fruit matures in 41-50 days.

Pollination: The variety of this invention is fertilized by the pollenof Sato Nishiki (fertility of 27.2%), and Sato Nishiki is fertilized bythe pollen of the variety of the present invention (fertility of 27.5%).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of cherry tree, substantially asillustrated and described herein, particularly characterized byproducing medium to large fruit of a vivid red color and an earlierflowering time than the known "Sato Nishiki" variety of cherry tree.